Police Lights (Jeff Motz/KFOR News)LINCOLN–(KFOR (Jan. 8)–Nearly 50 years ago, a police detective in Albuquerque, New Mexico started the Crime Stoppers program in needing the public’s help in a homicide case. That was 1976. A few years later, in 1980, the Crime Stoppers program was launched in Lincoln and Lancaster County. The same thing happened in Omaha in 1982 and Nebraska’s overall Crime Stoppers program launched in 1989. Do you know the origins of Crime Stoppers & its success here in Nebraska? The Lincoln Lancaster County Board started 45 years ago! Learn more about the program during Crime Stoppers Recognition Month. Thanks to @TeamPillen for the proclamation.@Lincoln_Police @OmahaPolice pic.twitter.com/LIPzs4Xwhs — Lincoln Police (@Lincoln_Police) January 7, 2025 Lincoln Police forensics technician Jared Minary says since the 1980s, those Nebraska programs have received over 60,000 tips, solved more than 19,000 cases and led to over 15,000 arrests. About $11-million in stolen property has been recovered and nearly $13-million in drugs have been seized, while 322 weapons have been removed off the streets. On Monday, Governor Jim Pillen proclaimed January as Crime Stoppers month in Nebraska.